Murder of bank fraud witness results in life sentence for conspirator

A Baltimore man was sentenced Friday for his role in the death of a witness in a bank fraud investigation.

Frank Marfo, 28, received life in prison after being convicted of murder, gun, and fraud conspiracy charges.

The victim, 19-year-old Isaiah Callaway, had been accused of working for Marfo and his partner, Tavon Davis, 25, who had concocted a scheme to hire homeless men to steal rent checks and deposit them in fake bank accounts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Callaway was arrested by Baltimore County Police opening one of the bank accounts and was later killed on Davis' orders, fearing Callaway would cooperate with the police, officials said.

Marfo, Davis and co-conspirator Bruce Byrd met from Dec. 29, 2010 through April 11, 2011, to discuss murdering Callaway, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Witnesses testified that Marfo offered to commit the murder, but later Davis and Marfo decided to hire Byrd for the job.

Davis and Byrd pleaded guilty to their roles in the murder. Byrd was sentenced to 40 years in prison and Davis is awaiting sentencing.